New iPhone offered for sale via unauthorised outlets

An unauthorised market in Apple's next-gen Jesus mobe is emerging ahead of today's much anticipated launch with price tags that would reduce most desperate fanbois to tears.

Suppliers in Europe have been contacted by broker Rainbow Concepts Inc, peddling the 16GB model at $925 and the 32GB version for $1,025 with minimum order quantities set at 500 units.

Ron Cantor at Rainbow Concepts Inc, told broker customers that shipments of the new iPhone will be available from 15 October, some weeks after the official launch.

"These prices are a bit high because we have to pay a substantial premium for these units now; we are only making a small profit at these prices," he said in an email sent to brokers that was seen by The Reg.

Cantor talked up potential shortages - which cynics may say is a well tested method of hyping products - claiming that he will only be able to get hold of 8,000 units between now and the year's end.

"For the next few months it appears that it will be almost impossible to purchase the new iPhone 5 units anywhere," he said.

Cantor told El Reg he was sourcing the phones from an authorised distributor in the US but refused to name them, which is not surprising really as importing kit from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) is frowned upon by vendors.

In fact there are a number of instances where UK suppliers have lost out in court battles over the import of kit into the EEA without consent.